Tag: Cayla

Say Cheese

Taking the senior class photo has changed? Because it’s being taken with a cellphone? Wow, progress, huh? Something else that’s changed is TB’s draftsmanship, if indeed it is he who drew this. I have no idea who the old gent taking the picture is, but I guess he’s another throwaway teacher, or maybe a passerby who the class asked if he would oblige. But this whole strip looks like it took ten minutes to draw. We recognize Maddie by her hat and red hair, and Cory by his shifty demeanor. But is that supposed to be the Capitol dome in the background? Might as well be Podunk City Hall.

Flashback to the 2007 Washington trip…Chien is still a drip…

In Situ Whatever

Batiuk’s “Funky felt tip” has been especially cruel to Linda yesterday and today: she looks like Crankshaft backed the school bus over her. I especially like the shadow cast by her nose.

The strip at first focused on gags about teenagers at the imaginary Westview High School. Over the years, it explored sensitive topics such as cancer, dyslexia, teen suicide and alcoholism.

—From just about every profile written about Tom Batiuk

But hey: writing means that you can play sensitive topics for laughs when you feel like it, right? So let’s all chuckle at the thought of Jim the Science Guy, alone in his hotel room, draining tiny, overpriced bottles of liquor while his colleagues dine without him.

Flashback to the 2007 Westview Senior Trip: Chien continues to demonstrate the “esteem” she has for her culturally deprived classmates.

Statutory Ignorance

Today’s haphazardly drawn tableau finds the senior Scapegoats admiring a statue which their chaperone incorrectly identifies as “Eternal Vigilance” (its actual title is “Guardianship”).  I’m reminded of a quote from Mark Vonnegut’s memoir, The Eden Express: “The price of eternal vigilance is insanity.” Query whether Cory’s opinion of “shrinks” is based on firsthand experience.

Flashback to the 2007 D.C. Trip:
Chien may have been one of the (few) fairly attractive Batiuk women, but her fans may have forgotten how bitchy and unpleasant she could be…

Wedgie-ton D.C.

Today’s strip feels like a “twofer”, as if Batiuk had an extra gag that he wanted to shoehorn into this Washington trip arc. The first panel contains some of TB’s trademark exposition. Even though Cody and Owen are no longer freshman, it appears they still are on the receiving end of daily wedgies, though hopefully the Magic Marker attacks have ceased.

Meanwhile in panel 2, I guess the sight of the White House’s many windows has triggered an OCD moment in Les.

Flashback to the 2007 Senior Trip:
Hipster Chien enjoys a snide chuckle at the expense of the “Barbie Dolls”:
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Quarant'anni di Montoni's

Finally, a special occasion that actually deserves to be celebrated at Montoni’s. The joint hasn’t been this packed since Darin discovered breakfast pizza. Everybody’s here…of course, Becky and Wally have to slave away back in the kitchen, and Khan’s been a persona non grata since opening up his own eatery nearly a year ago. Holly and Donna are in the same shot, proving they are not the same person; ditto Summer and Pete (wasn’t he leaving town?). Dead Skunk Head John and Bull are either gazing lovingly at one another or have just finished sharing a joint.